Thursday, December 15, 2016

Pope Francis urges President Assad to end violence in Aleppo

Pope Francis urged Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to do everything
possible to end the war in his country, to protect civilians and to
ensure humanitarian agencies can deliver emergency aid to the people.

Syria’s SANA news agency reported Assad met on December 12 with new
Cardinal Mario Zenari, the papal nuncio to Syria, and that the cardinal
delivered a letter from the Pope.

The news of the cardinal’s meeting came on the day that the Syrian
military announced it gained control of 99 per cent of the former
opposition enclave in eastern Aleppo, signalling an impending end to the
rebels’ four-year hold over parts of the city.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is urging those
fighting in Aleppo to do all they can to protect and spare civilian
lives.

The ICRC said in a statement on Tuesday that thousands of people with
no part in the violence “have literally nowhere safe to run.”

ICRC says a deepening humanitarian catastrophe and further loss
of life can be averted only if the basic rules of warfare — and of
humanity — are applied. Retaking Aleppo would be Assad’s biggest victory
yet in the civil war.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed alarm “over reports of atrocities against a large number of civilians” in the city.

On Monday, the Vatican confirmed the news of Cardinal Zenari’s
meeting, saying in a statement that “in naming Archbishop Mario Zenari
to the College of Cardinals, the Holy Father sought to show a particular
sign of affection for the beloved Syrian people, so sorely tried in
recent years.”

“In a letter sent through the new cardinal,” the Vatican statement
said, “Pope Francis expressed again his appeal to Assad and to the
international community for an end to the to the violence” and for a
“peaceful resolution of hostilities, condemning all forms of extremism
and terrorism from whatever quarter they may come.”

The Pope also asked Assad “to ensure that international humanitarian
law is fully respected with regard to the protection of the civilians
and access to humanitarian aid.”

After reciting the Angelus prayer on December 11 with people in St
Peter’s Square, the Pope said that he is close in prayer to the people
of Aleppo.

“We must not forget that Aleppo is a city and that there are people there: families, children, elderly, sick,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we have become used to the war and destruction, but
we must not forget that Syria is a country full of history, culture and
faith. We cannot allow this to be negated by war, which is a pile of
abuse and falsity.”